Apparatus for cleaning erasers.



No. 880,357. PATEN-TED SEPT. 4.,v 1906. E. W. SHANNON & A. G. MILLIGAN.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ERASERS.

APPLIOATION FILND OCT. 26, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Q rd & IIVVENTOHS 1206.921 7275550222 11020 .flrigz uz'du li'llzjyaw No. 830,377. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906. RPW. SHANNON & A. G. MILLIGAN. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ERASERS.

AYPLIGATION FILED 00T.26, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ENE Q E Q NM NM ATTOR/V sleeve.

ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT WVALKER SHANNON AND ARTHUR GILBERT HILLIGAN, OF NEl/V LEXINGTON, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ERASERS-- To all wltmn it Duty concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT I/VALKER SHANNON and ARTHUR GILBERT MILLIGAN,

citizens of the United States, and residents of New Lexington, in the county of Perry and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Cleaning Erasers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to cleaning apparatus, and particularly to that adapted for cleaning erasers. provide means for removing the dust from such articles and rendering them sterile.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of one embodiment of our invention, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional detail through the fan- Fig. 4 is a central vertical longitudinal section through another form of our invention, and Fig. 5 shows another arrangepient of gearing for connecting the drum and 10 designates a frame in which is journaled a main shaft 1 1, rotatable by suitable means, which is here shown as consisting of a crank 12, adapting the machine for manual operation. Carried by the shaft is a drum 13, conveniently made of sheet metal, mounted upon spiders 14 14, fixed to said shaft. In one of the heads of the drum, about its axis, is an inlet-opening 15, while outlet-openings are provided in the form of perforations 16 about the cylindrical surface and in the head opposite the inlet-opening. To give access to the interior of the drum, an opening is formed in its side which is closed by a door 17. About the inner periphery of the drum, extending longitudinally thereof, are elevating members or blades 18, which are shown as secured in place by angular portions 19, contacting with the wall. Fastened within the drum, preferably extending between the spiders, are beating members or blades 21.

The inlet-opening is preferably surrounded by a flange 22, and about the shaft, within this flange, is located a sleeve 23, which is shown as supported upon ball-bearings 23. To this sleeve are fixed fan-blades 24, which Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 26, 1904. Serial No. 230,118.

Its principal objects are to Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

29 with a small pulley 30 upon the sleeve 23.

The fan is driven through this gearing from the drum at a greatlydncreased rate of speed. Means is preferably provided for supplying to the drum during the operation a volatile disinfecting agent, this conveniently being in the form of a receptacle 31, situated within the flange 22 and supported by the frame.

In using the apparatus the articles to be cleanedas, for example, erasers used in con.- nection with blackboards in schools-are placed within the drum through the open door in its side, which is closed and fastened after a suitable number have been supplied. Then, if desired, the receptacle is filled with the volatile antiseptic which is to be used and the apparatus rotated by turning the crank or applying other power, if this be available. This results in the elevating members raising the erasers until, at a certain angle, said erasers will fall from the blades through the drum and be struck by the beating members, which in turn will throw them against the drum or its contents, they thus receivin a second impact. These blows will dislodge the chalk or other dust, which will be blown through the perforations, while any heavier particles which may be present will fall to the lower portion of the drum and through said perforations by gravity. During the beating operation the inflowing air will evaporate the disinfectant and carry it into the drum, where it will be brought in contact with the erasers and render them aseptic. This may be continued until the dust is sufficiently removed, when the door is opened and the drum emptied.

If the apparatus is to be used in such a situation that the free discharge of the dust into the atmosphere would be objectionable, we may instead employ such a form as is illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, in which a drum 31 is used, having no perforations save the inlet 32 and the outlet 33. Each of these openings, which are preferably axial, are surrounded by flanges 34:, and in the inlet-opening is a blast-fan 35, While the outlet-opening has associated with it an exhaustfan 36. These are mounted upon sleeves, such as have been previously described, each of which has fixed to it a pulley 37, connected by a belt .38 with a larger pulley 39, fast upon a counter-shaft 40, journaled in the frame. The counter-shaft also has fixed to it a small pulley 41, over which and a suitable surface upon the drum passes a belt 42. The outer end of the flange surrounding the outlet-opening is shown as closed, the shaft passing through a stuffing-box 43. From this closed flange depends a conduit 44, which may extend into a receptacle containing liquid, this not being shown. This form of the apparatus may be provided with elevating and beating members, as in the previously-described arrangement, but the dust Whichis dislodged will be blown through the drum by the current of air introduced by the blast-fan and withdrawn and forced beneath the liquid by the exhaust-fan, where it will be precipitated and may be removed at suitable intervals.

In Fig. 5 another form of gearing for the apparatus is shown, there here being employed a small pulley 45, secured to the fansleeve and having a belt 46, passing over it, and a larger pulley 47, carried by a counter shaft 48. This counter-shaftis journaled in a frame 49, which is preferably pivoted at upon the main frame and is guided by a pro jection 51 from said main frame extending through a slot 52. The counter-shaft also has fixed upon it a roll 53, which is movable into engagement with the periphery of the drum by a spring 54, extending between projections 55 from the fixed and movable frames. In this embodiment of our invention the long belt extending about the drum is eliminated and the counter-shaft rotated by frictional engagement, this resulting in some economy in maintenance.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a revoluble drum having an inletopening and provided with elevating and beating members, a fan loosely mounted on the shaft of the drum in the inlet-opening thereof, and gearing between the fan and the periphery of the drum, whereby the fan will be driven at a greatly-increased speed.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a revoluble drum having inlet and outlet openings and provided with elevating and beating members, an outwardlyprojecting flange surrounding the inletopening, a conduit leading from the outlet, a fan loosely mounted on the shaft of the drum within the flange and means for operating the fan from the periphery of the drum.

3. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination with a main shaft, a drum secured to the shaft and having an inlet-opening, a fan loosely mounted on the shaft adjacent to the inlet-opening, a counter-shaft, gearing between the counter-shaft and the hub of the fan, and a roll fixed on the countenshaft and engaging the periphery of the drum.

4. In a cleaning apparatus, the combination with a main shaft, of a drum fixed thereto and having inlet and outlet openings, an agitating device in the drum, a sleeve surrounding the shaft, a fancarried by the sleeve and being situated adjacent to one of the openings, a counter-shaft, gearing connecting the sleeve and counter-shaft, and a roll carried by the counter-shaft and contacting with the drum.

5. In a cleaning apparatus, the combination with a main shaft, of a drum fixed thereto and having inlet and outlet openings, an agitating device in the drum, a sleeve surrounding the shaft, a fan carried by the sleeve and being situated adjacent to one of the openings, a movable frame, a counter-shaft journaled in the frame, gearing connecting the sleeve and counter-shaft, and a roll carried by the counter-shaft and contacting with the drum.

6. In a cleaningapparatus, the combination with a main shaft, of a drum fixed thereto and having inlet and outlet openings, an agitating device in the drum, a sleeve surrounding the shaft, a fan carried by the sleeve and being situated adjacent to one of the openings, a movable frame, a countershaft journaled in the frame, gearing connecting the sleeve and counter-shaft, a roll carried by the counter-shaft and contacting with the drum, and a spring acting to force the roll toward the drum.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT WALKER SHANNON.

ARTHUR GILBERT MILLIGAN. I/Vitnesses:

C. A. DONAHUE,

C. E. SPENCER. 

